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Rice to grab unique chance for peace in Middle East

THE revival of the Middle East peace process, leading to the creation of a Palestinian state, will be the top priority for Condoleezza Rice when she is confirmed as America’s secretary of state.

She has told friends she is sympathetic to the Palestinians’ plight and will work tirelessly for a democratic settlement.

Her nomination for the post by President George W Bush last week makes Rice the most powerful African-American woman in history. She is convinced the death of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, has created a unique opportunity to shift the region towards peace and is determined to make her mark in office.

Coit Blacker, director of the Stanford Institute for International Studies, has been a friend of Rice for 25 years. “She is going to focus like a laser beam on it. The timing could not be better. I know from talking to her she feels this may